Evaluation of Cytomegalovirus Infection after Six Months of Liver Transplantation in Children in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Abstract

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving treatment for end-stage liver diseases (ESLD). Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is one of the important causes of morbidity after LT.Objective: To evaluate the incidence of late-onset (after 6 months of LT) CMV infection in pediatric recipients.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate 50 pediatric patients who underwent LT for8 years at the LT Unit of Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.We retrospectively investigated episodes of CMV infection after 6 months of LT proven by CMV antigenemiatest.Results: Three recipients (6%) developed late-onset CMV infection. These patients finally responded toganciclovir.Conclusion: CMV infection is one of the most common post-LT viral infections that usually occurs in the firstsix months of LT. Our study shows that the incidence of late-onset CMV infection is relatively low, but itstill remains a significant problem. Therefore, monitoring and management is crucial for improving thesurvival of children.

Keywords

• Children
• Liver transplantation
• Late-onset cytomegalovirus infection